Program Overview

Department of Physical Therapy

The Department of Physical Therapy is part of the School of Health Professions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Graduate Certificate in Primary Care Physical Therapy for Underserved Populations

The Graduate Certificate in Primary Care Physical Therapy for Underserved Populations is a program designed to equip physical therapists with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide primary care services to underserved populations.

Admissions

• Information about admissions is available, but specific details are not provided in the given context.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Graduate Certificate in Primary Care Physical Therapy for Underserved Populations includes the following courses:

• Year 1, Summer: PTC 790 – Challenges in American Healthcare: Physical Therapy as Part of the Solution
  • This course explores current trends in health and healthcare in the United States, with an emphasis on underserved populations and marginalized communities.
• Year 1, Fall: PTC 791 – Physical Therapist Role in Primary Care
  • This course examines current primary care practice models in which a physical therapist is a team member.
• Year 2, Spring: PTC 792 – Health Focused Physical Therapy Care I
  • This course prepares students to assist patients/clients in underserved populations and marginalized communities to adopt healthier lifestyles and optimize their health using the Health-Focused Physical Therapy Model.
• Year 2, Spring: PTC 793 – Advanced Physical Therapy Management of Priority Health Conditions I
  • This course focuses on individual management of identified priority health conditions within the context of primary care.
• Year 2, Summer: PTC 794 – Health Focused Physical Therapy Care II
  • This course continues to prepare students to assist patients/clients in underserved populations and marginalized communities to adopt healthier lifestyles and optimize their health using the Health-Focused Physical Therapy Model.
• Year 2, Summer: PTC 795 – Advanced Physical Therapy Management of Priority Health Conditions II
  • This course further develops advanced intervention skills applied to complex and often chronic conditions in a primary care environment.
• Year 2, Fall: PTC 796 – Physical Therapists' Role in Disaster and Emergency Preparation and Management
  • This course provides physical therapists with skills within their scope of practice to prepare and respond to emergencies and disasters.
• Year 3, any semester: PT 797 – Community Engagement and Program Planning for Physical Therapists
  • This course examines strategies for and the benefits of community engagement and advocacy by physical therapists, with emphasis on needs assessment techniques, program planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Primary Care Physical Therapy for Underserved Populations, graduates will be able to:

• Develop broad consultation and referral networks with community-based services that reflect the needs and priorities of marginalized and underserved populations.
• Perform specialized screening/triage skills to provide primary and emergency care within the physical therapist scope of practice.
• Perform holistic examination and management of patients/clients with complex/chronic conditions as a primary care team member serving marginalized and underserved populations.
• Assess program/practice outcomes such as safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate community health programs.
• Apply emergency and disaster preparation and management knowledge and skills within the physical therapist scope of practice.